Apple 'Pinch to Zoom' Patent Rejected by U.S. in Initial Ruling

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a preliminary ruling against Apple Inc.'s "pinch-to-zoom" patent, which Apple used as a cornerstone of its case against Samsung Electronics Co.

The agency rejected all claims in Apple's patent on Wednesday, according to a document issued by the patent office that was filed by Samsung in federal court in San Jose, Calif. The document lists portions of the patent that were struck...